Merry Christmas!

C-c-c-clinical extra mural studies (is c-c-c-cold!!)

My first week of clinical ems has begun and I'm in the large animal practice at the University, following the vets on call around Lothian. I started by fertility testing some aberdeen angus bulls, which involved getting an, ahem, 'sample' and assessing all sorts of parameters from both the bull and their sample. It was all very interesting and it turned out both were very good on the fertility front.


In and amongst the usual calls, there was an emergency call out to a cow, which was having trouble giving birth. She was quite a small cow, with quite a big calf, so after a bit of manipulation and pulling it was clear the calf just wasn't going to get through the regular back route. We therefore approached from the side, and to cut a long story short we got the calf out happy and healthy and the mother stitched up and a lot skinnier than she was when we started!
It was a very interesting case, having never done calving or seen a caeser. I got to cut the calf out of the uterus, so I did a good job of midwife for a bit.

Apart from that, i have had a lot of horse visits, everything from more boys' bits to very sore feet. All good stuff but by george it's bloomin' freezing! Thank goodness for the Great British cup of tea :-)

A stitch in time...

We have finally been taught the art of hand ties and suturing. Quite exciting really. I can now scrub, gown, glove, stitch, and bandage. Just need somebody to practice on now...

The gloves are off (and then on again)

Today we learned how to wash our hands. Scrub, scrub, scrub, 80 times per finger, 80 on your hand, and 80 on your wrist. That's a lot of scrubbing. Then there was dressing up: gowns and gloves. It's a very good look I think.

Happy Halloween!

Twas the weekend before Halloween and a quiet little village outside Edinburgh was descended upon by people dressed in funny outfits...

A great night of fancy dress, fun food, pumpkin making (isn't he beautiful! I made him all by myself, and yes, he does just have one eyebrow) and ducking for apples.

Do you like the hat?...

And that's a wrap!

Ahh, first small animal practical of the year: bandaging!


An hour and a half of wrapping poor wee doggies up in lots of cotten wool, and bandages to create a supportive work of art.


The dog to the left is Angus and that big blue thing is my first bandage. (No, he's not dead or even sedated-He's a vet student's dream!). Hoorah. Angus is one of the nurse's dogs and clearly is bored with the whole event, whilst also enjoying the fuss and cheeky biscuits. He's a nine year old springer spanial and has been one of the student's subjects since he was a pup. I'm sure if only they could talk, I'm sure he could tell me exactly what to do step by step!

Here he is post-bandaging: still a happy chappy.














This here is scruff. I think the girls had the good deal here-not only their first bandage, but the smallest I reckon!





Now all that's left to do is re-roll out bandages and take them home to attack an unsuspecting flatmate or partner. Watch out!

Bike Origami

I must share the genius that is the folding bike! Well, after some very naughty person stole my beautiful, faithful bike from right outside my flat (boo hoo), I was forced to consider another. Having suitable grieved then pondered the pros and cons of what felt like every bike in the world, I finally decided on this folding wonder.

OK, it did take me a while to get used to the small wheels, characteristic appearance and folding my bike in the middle of the street, never mind getting over the fact that the bike could fall apart at any moment if I didn't unfold it right, but now all is well and I am mobile again.

Hoorah for bicycles!